Magnetic structure determination of transition metal dichalcogenide Fe<sub>1/3</sub>NbS2

ORAL

Abstract

In layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) MA2 (M = Ta, Nb, A = S, Se),the weak van der Waals bonding between adjacent layers allows easy intercalation of transition metal atoms. Intercalated magnetic ions, such as T = Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, occupy the vacant octahedral sites between the layers and form an ordered triangular superlattice.This introduces in the magnetic degree of freedom, giving rise to a class of layered magnetic materials with a rich array of magnetic phenomena. Recently, the current-induced switching and magnetic memory effects were reported in FexNbS2 with x close to 1/3 that exhibits an antiferromagnetic transition at TN ~ 45 K. This provides a new avenue to realize the spintronic device. From neutron diffraction experiment,we determined a stripe-type order that develops into three magnetic domains, which is strongly coupled to three nematic domains. The magnetic order parameter can be explained with the development of canted moment, which is associated with competing exchange interactions in the frustrated lattice and the effect of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction because of the lack of the inversion symmetry.

*This work is funded by the U.S. DOE, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division under Contract No. DE-AC02-05-CH11231 within the QM Program (KC2202).

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Presenters

  • Shan Wu

    • Physics, University of California at Berkeley
    • University of California, Berkeley

Authors

  • Shan Wu

    • Physics, University of California at Berkeley
    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Zhijun Xu

    • NIST and University of Maryland
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • (NCNR, National Institute of Standards and Technology)
    • NIST Center for Neutron Research

  • Eran Maniv

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

  • Arani Acharya

    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Spencer Doyle

    • physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, Harvard University
    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Harvard University

  • Caolan John

    • physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • University of California, Berkeley

  • James Analytis

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkerley
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • physics, University of California, Berkeley

  • Robert J Birgeneau

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California at Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley